t Selma, 18, is a teacher in training and
worried about her future job prospects.
Lately, there have not been many open
positions for new teachers in the area.
She still has some time left before she
graduates and is ready to enter the
workforce, but, like other students in the
course, she is worried about making it to
graduation. Just this year, 40 students
had to drop out of the school due to
lack of money. Selma comes from a poor
family and the strain her schooling puts
on her family’s income is daunting.
What’s more, as the only girl in her
village to go to school, Selma has to deal
with some of the more close-minded
people in her village taunting her for
being educated. As a result, her father
or brother escort her to and from class.
Despite it all, she is determined to finish
the course and become a teacher.
22 | JOURNEY OF HOPE
CENTRAL ASIA INSTITUTE